Atomizer pump



Aug. 3, 1965 w. R. O'DONNELL ETAL 3,198,403

ATOMIZER PUMP Filed 001:. 22, 1963 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Wilhelm KODonne 11 Wolf Steiman g- 1955 w. R. ODONNELL ETAL 3,198,403

ATOMI ZER PUMP Filed Oct. 22, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS William R.ODormef BY WOL'F 5121mm) United States Patent 3,198,4tl3 ATQMIZER EUM?Wiiiiam R. UDonneii, Tiusrnhuii, and Wolf Steiman, Fairfieid, Conn,assignors to Valve Corporation of America, Bridgeport, Conn, acorporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 22, 1963, Ser. No. 318,063 3 Claims.(Cl. 222-321) This invention relates to pump-type atomizers of the kindmounted in or on containers for the purpose of dispensing the liquidcontents thereof in a spray, and more particularly to the pumpconstruction of such devices.

This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending applicationSerial No. 278,962 filed May 8, 1963 and entitled Atomizer Pump.plication a pump plungeror piston element is disclosed and described,comprising essentially two axially-separated annular piston elements.The embodiment of the invention which is new and which is added to theoriginal subject matter by the present application comprises a plungerelement having but a single annular piston element of appreciable axiallength, as compared to the two axially spaced piston elements of thecopending application.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved atomizerpump for use with a closed container such as a bottle, jar or the like,which pump has positive-acting valved venting means to enablereplacement air to enter the vessel as the liquid contents become usedand depleted, as well as pressure relief.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved ventedatomizer pump construction as above set forth, which involves relativelyfew parts of simple construction, characterized by quick and easyassembly.

I Still another object of the invention is to provide an improvedatomizer pump in accordance with the foregoing, which is effective andreliable in its operation, and not likely to jam or otherwise get out oforder.

An important feature of the invention resides in the provision of aunique vented atomizer pump of the kind outlined, which is not subjectto leakage either during storage or transportation, or during use by theultimate consumer.

A still further object of the inventioni is to provide an improvedatomizer pump structure as characterized above, which is simple toproduce, and economical in its construction. i i A further feature ofthe invention resides in the provision of an improved pump constructionin accordance with the above, wherein a positive slide valve actioncharacterizes the vent means.

An additional feature of the invention resides in the provision of apositive-acting valved venting means in an atomizer pump, wherein but asingle annular piston element functions not only as a valve to controlventing and ingress of air to the container interior but also as apiston to effect the discharge of the contents of the container.

Still another feature of the invention resides in the provision of anatomizer pump as above set forth, which is easy and simple to operate,requiring but little force on the part of the user.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved ventedatomizer pump construction as outlined, wherein an effective spray isproduced each time that the pump is operated.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear;

In the drawings accompanying this specification, similar characters ofreference are used to designate like components throughout the severalviews, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational View of the present atomizer In this copendingappump construction mounted on a small container of the type intended tobe held in the hand.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary axial sectional view showing detailsof the pump and venting mechanism provided by the invention, the partsbeing in the normal or inoperative position.

FIG. 3 is an axial. sectional view similar to that of FIG. 2, butshowing the parts after actuation of the pump to produce a spray.

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an axial sectional View similar to that of PEG. 2, butillustrating anotherembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the actuator button and screw capassemblage of the atomizer pump of FIGS. 5 and 6.

The atomzier illustrated comprises a small bottle or container 15) ofusual construction, made of either glass, plastic or other suitablematerial. Mounted on the neck of the container 10 is a pump and actuatorstructure designated generally by thenumeral 12. Such structure includes an actuator or depress button 14 having a spray nozzle or orifice16 in its side Wall, which communicates with an axial bore or recess 18disposed in a central hub or boss 20.

Frictionally fixedly fitted in the boss 20 is a plunger or piston stem22, said stem passingthrough a central opening 24 in a metal closure ormounting cup 26.

The depress button 14, as well as the orifice member 16 and the stem 22may be advantageously fabricated as plastic moldings, of suitableplastic substance such as polyethylene and nylon. Because of itsstrength, nylon is preferred in fabricating the stem 22.

Securernent of the mounting cup 26 tothe container 10 is effected bycrimping or rolling in the lower peripheral edge 28 of the cup at apoint below the external shoulder 30 of the lip of the container 10.

The piston stem 22 has an inner portion 32 of enlarged externaldiameter, such portion being disposed in and being guided by a tubularcylinder member 34 located within the neck portion of the container 10.The cylinder member 34 is also preferably fabricated as a plasticmolding, of linear polyethylene or other suitable material. At itsuppermost extremity it has an outwardly extending annular mountingfiange 36 which is clamped against a sealing gasket 38 and thus securedto the mouth or" the container 10 by the mounting cup 26.

Preferably, as shown, the cylinder member 34 is coupled with a dependingdip or siphon tube 4%, there being a tapering section 42 andacylindrical section 44 between the cylinder proper 34 and the dip tube40. In the taper-' tion with the piston stem structure-22 and thecylinder structure 34 there is provided a novel piston and ventingorganization which provides a positive valved-venting action as well aneffective piston action, all characterized by relatively few parts ofsimple structure which may be readily fabricated and assembled, saidorganization further providing an eifective and reliable, foolproofventing atomizer action while at the same time positively insuringagainst leaks not only when the device is being stored, shipped ordisplayed, but also during its period of use by the consumer. The saidvalved venting and piston construction comprises a resilientdouble-piston member designated generally by the numeral 54, as well asa side vent hole or opening 56 in a wall of the cylinder member 34.

Cooperating with such structures are somewhat loose, sliding fitsbetween the piston stem 22 on the one hand and the cylinder member 34and mounting cup 26 on the other hand. The double-piston member 54 maybe advantageously fabricated of a resilient and resistant rubberformulation such as neoprene or the like, and comprises an elongatehollow shank portion 58 which is disposed in and fixedly frictionallyfitted to an enlarged bore 60 in the piston stem 22. The piston stemalso has a small-diameter bore 62 which communicates with the bore 18 ofthe hollow boss of the depress button.

The piston member 54 further comprises a pair of .axia'lly spacedannular or ring-like piston elements 64 and 66, such elements beingpreferably of conical configuration with square-sectioncylinder-engaging peripheral portions 68 and 70 respectively. The pistonelement 64 is connected with the piston element 66 by an intermediateshank portion 72, as shown. Further, the piston member 54 is hollow,that is, it has a through bore 74 in which there is disposed a dischargevalve stem 76 carrying a valve enlargement 78 which is cooperable withthe upper extremity 80 of the resilient shank 58 of the piston element54. Clearance exists between the valve stem 76 and the walls of the bore74 of the piston element, as shown.

The lower end of the valve stem 76 has a D-shaped enlargement 82 whichis snugly seated in a shouldered portion 84 of the cylinder structure,being maintained in place by :a helical compression spring 86 which alsobears against the shank portion 72 of the piston member 54. The spring86 not only maintains the valve stem 76 and valve enlargement 78 in alowermost position at all times in the cylinder 34, as shown, but alsocontinually yieldably urges upward the piston member 54 as well as thepiston shank 22 and the depress button 14. The compression spring 86 maybe advantageously fabricated of stainless steel or equivalentnon-corrosive metal. Because of the D-shape of the enlargement 82, apassage is provided past such enlargement for liquid which is to bedischarged from the container 10. Such liquid may be sucked upwardthrough the dip tube 40, displacing in an upward direction the ballcheck valve 48 and passing into the interior of the cylinder or tankmember 34. The suction by which this movement of liquid is accomplishedis effected by a return or upward stroke of the piston assemblage anddepress button 14.

Considering FIG. 2, when the button 14 is depressed for the purpose ofobtaining a spray discharge from the orifice '16, the piston element 64,68 will descend in the cylinder 34, effecting a compression of thecontents of the lower part of the cylinder. During such depressingmovement the ball check valve 48 will be closed, and the dischargecontrol valve 78 will become disengaged from the shank portion 80 of thepiston member 54. In consequence, a mixture of air and liquid will beforced from the cylinder 34 upward through the central bore 74 of thepiston member 54, and will be discharged from the orifice member 16 inthe form of a fine spray.

In accordance with the present invention, during such time that thedepressing movement of the piston assemblage occurs, a positive-actionvalve controlled venting is eifected, by which air is permitted to enterthe cont ainer 10 from the exterior of the atomizer in order to replacethe liquid which is being discharged. Such venting action involves thevent hole 56 in the side of the cylinder 34, as well as the secondpiston element 66, 70.

It willbe observed by inspection of FIG. 3 that the piston element 66,'70 has been shifted downward to a level below the vent hole 56. Inconsequence, such vent hole will now have communication with theexterior atmosphere, by virtue of the looseness of the fit between thestem portion 32 and interior of the cylinder 34, as well as thelooseness of the fit between the stem portion 22 and the central opening24 of the mounting cup 26. Atmospheric air may enter past such loosefitting parts, into the upper portion of the cylinder 34 and thenceoutward through the vent hole 56 to the interior of the container 10. Itwill be observed that the venting is effected by a positive valvingaction, involving the piston element 66, 70 and the cooperable port-ionsof the cylinder 34, including the vent hole 56 in the wall of thecylinder.

As the valve assemblage is permitted to again shift upward under theaction of the compression spring 86 upon removal of the actuating forcefrom the button 14, the piston member 54 will assume the raised positionillustrated in FIG. 2. For such position, the piston element 66, 70 willnow be disposed at a level above the vent hole 56, thereby effectivelyblocking the contents of the container 10 and preventing any liquid fromleaking or seeping past the loose-fitting stem parts 22, 32. For suchraised position of the piston assemblage, of course, the dischargecontrol valve 78 will close the upper portion of the bore 74 of thepiston member 54, whereby no egress of liquid from the interior of thepiston 34 will be possible. In consequence, the container 10 iseffectively sealed at all times that the piston assemblage is in theraised position shown in FIG. 2.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7.In the main, the operation of this embodiment is similar to that of thepreviously described embodiment, except that in place of the twoaxiallyspaced piston elements 68, 70 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, but asingle annular piston element is provided, having an apprec-iable axiallength and functioning not only to control the ingress of air to thecontainer but also as the pressureproducing means which eirects thedischarge of the container contents when the operating button isdepressed. Also, the embodiment of FIGS. 5-7 employs a threaded screwcap, as distinguished from the crimped mounting cup of FIGS. 13.

As seen in FIG. 5, the container 19 has a threaded neck portion 92 towhich there is applied an internally threaded cap 94 having a sealinggasket 96. The atomizer pump comprises a cylinder member 98 having atits upper end an outturned flange 100 which is disposed between thegasket 96 and the top wall 102 of the cap 94. In its side wall, thecylinder member 98 has a vent or air-ingress opening 104 which isnormally closed by an annular piston element 106 of appreciable axiallength. The piston element 106 has a conical or tapered portion 108joined to a hollow shank portion 110 whichlatter is carried in the lowerend 112 of the plunger shank 114. At the upper end of the shank 114 themanually engageable operating button 116 is carried, such button havingthe usual discharge passage 118 and spray head 120. The passage 118communicates with the bore 122 .of the shank 114,-and discharge ofliquid through the bore 122 is controlled by a valve head or enlargement124 carried on a central stem 126 whose lower end has a notched flange128 maintained in engagement with a shoulder 130 of the cylinder memherby a helical compression spring 132.

A ball check valve 134 is carried in a conical seat 136 at the lowerportion of the cylinder member 98, and a dip or siphon tube 138 isfrictionally fitted in the hollow lower portion of reduced diameter 140of the cylinder member.

It will be understood that the upper extremity of the shank 110 of thepiston element constitutes a valve seat for the valve head orenlargement 124 carried by the central stem 126, and in consequence forthe position of the parts shown in FIG. 5 the passage 122 is normallyclosed. However, when the button 116 is depressed or shifted downward,the seat in the shank 110 will leave the valve enlargement 124, openingthe passage 122. At the same time, the action of the piston element 106in reducing the effective volume in the cylinder 98 will force theliquid contained therein upward through the bore 122 and dischargepassage 118, to be sprayed from the orifice member 120.

As the piston element 106 leave sthe side opening 104 in the cylinder98, air from the exterior may pass through the upper portion of thecylinder, and thence radially outward through the side opening 104 intothe space within the neck 92 of the container, and thence into thecontainer proper. The looseness of the plunger shank 114 in the cap 94and in the cylinder 98 permits such ingress I of air into the upperportion of the cylinder, as will be understood.

The piston element 106, 108, 110 is made of resilient rubber orrubber-like material, and for the raised position of the plungerassemblage it effectively closes the side opening 104 and preventsleakage of the contents of the container 90. Also, the piston assemblageis extremely effective in its action, tending to expand as the plungerassembly is shifted downward, thereby to etiectively increase thepressure within the lower portion of the cylinder and force the liquidcontents thereof upward through the central bore 122 of the plungershank 114. The appreciable axial length of the portion 106 of the pistonelement provides for an etfective closing of the side opening 104, aswell as preventing leakage of liquid between the piston element and theinner walls of the cylinder when the plunger is shifted downward.

After a short downward travel of the plunger assemblage, the sideopening 104 will be uncovered by the piston portion 106, and thereafteran adequate air relief action is had, whereby air will readily enter thecontainer 90 in the required amount.

The fabrication of the piston member 106, 108, 110 may be easily carriedout, in simple mold equipment whereby there is effected an economy inthe manufacture of this piece.

It will now be understood from the foregoing that there has beenprovided by the present invention an improved, positive-acting valvedvent organization in an atomizer pump, which is at one and the same timeextremely efiective and reliable in its operation as well as providing aleak-proof arrangement. Relatively few parts are involved, such partsbeing economically fabricated by known molding procedures, and beingeasily and quickly assembled into the operative structure shown.

The organization provides a positive slide valve action in controllingthe vent to the container, is foolproof and reliable at all times, andnot subject to jamming or malfunctioning. The pump construction is easyto operate, and provides an eifective spray or atomization of the liquidcontents of the container.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims,and portions of the improvement may be used without others.

What is claimed as new is:

1. An atomizer pump construction comprising, in combination:

(a) a pump cylinder adapted to be mounted on a container and having aninlet to enable it to receive liquid from the container,

(b) a piston device reciprocable in the cylinder be tween a first and asecond position to eifect a pumping action, said piston device includingan actuator stem passing out of the cylinder, and including a singleresilient hollow piston element of cylindrical configuration and havingan axial length not in excess of its diameter,

(c) positive-acting, venting valve means including said piston element,enabling exterior air to pass through the cylinder for introduction intothe container when the piston device is in its second position,saidvalve means being closed to prevent said passage of air when thepiston device is in the first position,

(d) means providing a discharge passage from the cylinder,

(e) a valve controlling said discharge passage, said valve closing inresponse to the piston device moving toward the first position from thesecond and vice versa,

(f) said venting valve means comprising cooperable portions, of thecylinder wall and piston element,

g) said cylinder having a valve opening in the said cooperable wallportion thereof,

(h) said piston element overlying and closing 01f the valve opening whenthe piston device is in its first position, and

(i) rigid backing means on the piston device, engaged with peripheralportions of the piston element and engageable with the walls of thecylinder toprevent appreciable tilting of the piston device anddeformation and inoperativeness of the latter when the piston device isbeing moved from the first to the second position to cause said pumpingaction.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein:

(a) the backing means comprises a conical socket,

(b) said piston element having a conical shoulder engaged with andclosely fitting the said conical socket, to reinforce the pistonelement.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein:

(a) the backing means comprises a tubular bearing stem on the pistondevice,

(b) said stem being movable within the cylinder and having a loose fittherein resulting in clearance space between the stem and cylinder forthe passage of venting air, and

(c) a cap-member for securing the cylinder to the container, said capmember having an opening through which the bearing stem passes and inwhich it bears, to guide the piston device.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,096,227 10/37De Weal 222 321 2,128,567 '8/38 Wilson 222-421 2,362,080 11/44 Martin222-321 EVERETT W. KIRBY, Primary Examiner. HADD S. LANE, Examiner.

1. AN ATOMIZER PUMP CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: (A) A PUMPCYLINDER ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON A CONTAINER AND HAVING AN INLET TOENABLE IT TO RECEIVE LIQUID FROM THE CONTAINER, (B) A PISTON DEVICERECIPROCABLE IN THE CYLINDER BETWEEN A FIRST AND A SECOND POSITION TOEFFECT A PUMPING ACTION, SAID PISTON DEVICE INCLUDING AN ACTUATOR STEMPASSING OUT OF THE CYLINDER, AND INCLUDING A SINGLE RESILIENT HOLLOWPISTON ELEMENT OF CYLINDRICAL CONFIGURATION AND HAVING AN AXIAL LENGTHNOT IN EXCESS OF ITS DIAMETER, (C) POSITIVE-ACTING, VENTING VALVE MEANSINCLUDING SAID PISTON ELEMENT, ENABLING EXTERIOR AIR TO PASS THROUGH THECYLINDER FOR INTRODUCTION INTO THE CONTAINER WHEN THE PISTON DEVICE ISIN ITS SECOND POSITION, SAID VALVE MEANS BEING CLOSED TO PREVENT SAIDPASSAGE OF AIR WHEN THE PISTON DEVICE IS IN THE FIRST POSITION, (D)MEANS PROVIDING A DISCHARGE PASSGE FROM THE CYLINDER, (E) A VALVECONTROLLING SAID DISCHARGE PASSAGE, SAID VALVE CLOSING IN RESPONSE TOTHE PISTON DEVICE MOVING TOWARD THE FIRST POSITION FROM THE SECOND ANDVICE VERSA, (F) SAID VENTING VALVE MEANS COMPRISING COOPERABLE PORTIONS,OF THE CYLINDER WALL AND PISTON ELEMENT, (G) SAID CYLINDER HAVING AVALVE OPENING IN THE SAID COOPERABLE WALL PORTION THEREOF, (H) SAIDPISTON ELEMENT OVERLYING AND CLOSING OFF THE VALVE OPENING WHEN THEPISTON DEVICE IS IN ITS FIRST POSITION, AND (I) RIGID BACKING MEANS ONTHE PISTON DEVICE, ENGAGED WITH PERIPHERAL PORTIONS OF THE PISTONELEMENT AND ENGAGEABLE WITH THE WALLS OF THE CYLINDER TO PREVENTAPPRECIABLE TILTING OF THE PISTON DEVICE AND DEFORMAON ANDINOPERATIVENESS OF THE LATTER WHEN THE PISTON DEVICE IS BEING MOVED FROMTHE FIRST TO THE SECOND POSITION TO CAUSE SAID PUMPING ACTION.